This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Number of people waiting to attend citizenship ceremonies in Randwick (NSW)'.


28 April 2022 
Javier 
BY EMAIL:  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
In reply please quote: 
FOI Request:  FA 22/04/00646
File Number:        OBJ2022/9179
Dear Javier, 
I refer to your request dated 9 April 2022 in which you have sought access to documents held 
by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 
1982 (the FOI Act). 
You have requested access to: 
The number of Australian citizenship applicants whose applications were approved 
on or before 27 Nov 2021 but are stil  waiting for a citizenship ceremony in Randwick 
council (NSW).  
This letter is to notify you that a preliminary assessment indicates that you are liable to pay a 
charge for the processing of this request.  
As provided under section 29 of the FOI Act  and the Freedom of  Information (Charges) 
Regulations 1982 (the Regulations), my preliminary assessment of the amount you are liable 
to pay is $15.00. 
Preliminary assessment of charges 
Under section 17 of the FOI Act, the Department has used its computer system to produce 
one document that contains information relevant to the terms of you request.  
I have assessed the work the Department would need to do to process your request, taking 
into account time spent by the relevant area to conduct the search and retrieval of documents 
and produce the document, and have calculated the following breakdown of charges. 
Search and Retrieval – one hour @ $15 per hour 
$ 15.00 
Decision Making – 30 minutes (first 5 hours free of charge) 
$ 0.00 
Total 
$ 15.00 
6 Chan Street B 1
el  connen ACT 2617 
PO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616 • Telephone:  02 6264 1111 • w ww.homeaffairs.gov.au 


 
Details of the Charge 
It  has taken one hour to search for, retrieve and produce the document which falls within the 
scope of your request. The document consisting of  one pages wil   require a  decision to  be 
made on access and it is estimated that this wil   take 30 minutes (noting that the first 5 hours 
are free of charge).   
As the charge is less than $25.00 the full amount wil  be sought if the charge is imposed. 
Please note that by paying the charge you are deemed to have accepted the charge.  
Timeframe for your response and next steps 
 
The FOI Act provides you with 30 days to respond, in writing, to this notice, which is 
Saturday, 28 May 2022. However, as this date falls on a non-working day, section 36(2) of 
the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 provides that the latest date you may respond is the next 
working day, which is Monday, 30 May 2022.  
By this date you must do one of the following: 
•  agree to pay the charge; 
•  contend that the charge has been wrongly assessed; or should be reduced or 
not imposed; and explain your reasons; or 
•  you may withdraw your request. 
Once you have paid, please advise the FOI Section at xxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx immediately 
to avoid delays in the processing of your request. 
Please note that if you do not provide a written response within the 30 day timeframe your 
request wil  be taken to have been withdrawn (by you) under section 29(2) of the Act.  
Contesting Charges 
If  you seek to contend the assessment of charges the Department may make  a decision on 
whether a charge should be reduced or not imposed and must take into account:  
•  whether payment of the charge, or part of it, would cause you financial hardship 
•  whether giving access to the documents is  in the general public interest or in 
the interest of a substantial section of the public 
This is  not an  exhaustive list  and the Department may  consider any other relevant matters. 
Please set out your reasons and evidence in support of your reasons as clearly as possible. 
If  you believe that payment of the charge would cause you financial hardship, please provide 
sufficient details of your financial circumstances to enable the decision maker to make a well 
informed decision. 
Payment 
To indicate your agreement to pay the charge you are required to pay the deposit, or pay the 
charge in full. 
The Department has a  number of payment options available, including an online payment 
facility for credit/debit cards; automated telephone payment system and BPay. You may also 
pay the charge by cheque or money order. 
 
 



Electronic funds transfer/credit card payment 
If  you wish to pay the charges using a credit card, the online payment facility, telephone 
payment system or BPay, please advise the FOI Section, and a tax invoice wil  be provided to 
you which wil   include full details of how the payment can be made. 
Payment by cheque/money order 
If  you wish to pay by cheque or money order, please make the cheque/money order payable 
to ‘Collector of Public Monies Home Affairs’; and send via post to: 
Freedom of Information Section 
Department of Home Affairs 
PO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616 
If  the Department fails to make a decision on your request within the statutory time limit,  the 
payment wil  be refunded. 
Processing period suspended 
The period for processing your request is suspended from the day that you are deemed to 
have been ‘notified’ of the charge and resumes on: 
• the day you pay the charge in full or the required deposit; or
• the day on which this agency makes a decision not to impose a charge.
Legislation 
A  copy of the FOI  Act is available at https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A02562. 
If you are unable to access the legislation through this website, please contact our office for a 
copy. 
Contact 
If you have any enquiries concerning this matter, please contact the FOI Section at 
xxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.  
Yours sincerely, 
Tina 
Position number: 60045423 
FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section 
FOI and Records Management Branch 
Data Division | Strategy and National Resilience Group 
Department of Home Affairs